Rejected choice for ICC gets new consumer post

Martin Cohen named state's chief advocate

January 12, 2006|By Robert Manor, Tribune staff reporter

Gov. Rod Blagojevich Wednesday appointed longtime consumer advocate Martin Cohen, rejected by the state Senate for the chairmanship of the Illinois Commerce Commission, to the new position of director of consumer affairs.

The governor's office said Cohen, the former executive director of the Citizens Utility Board, will advise Blagojevich on consumer issues and coordinate consumer advocacy among state agencies.

"More than ever, it's essential that consumers have a seat at the decision-making table," Blagojevich said in a statement.

Cohen said he plans to work on a number of issues that will benefit the public.

"Consumer privacy issues are very important," he said. "Predatory lending continues to be a problem. Energy policy will continue to be a key concern for me."

He also will work on identity theft, consumer fraud and telecom policy. His role also may include crafting legislation.

"This work is a continuation of what I did at CUB," he said.

Cohen, 54, worked at the utility watchdog group for 20 years, playing a key role in representing consumers' interests in the state's regulation of utility companies. Last year Blagojevich appointed him chairman of the ICC.

But after intense lobbying by utilities, the Senate in November refused to confirm Cohen's nomination. This week the chairmanship went to former Rockford Mayor Charles Box.

The appointment to director of consumer affairs does not require Senate approval.

Cohen rejected the suggestion that Blagojevich gave him the $112,000-a-year job as a consolation prize for having failed to win Senate approval to the ICC post.

"The governor doesn't owe me anything," he said.

Cohen's elevation to state consumer advocate quickly won praise, even from people at utilities he once confronted.

"I think Marty has been a great consumer advocate in this state," said Rod Sierra, spokesman for Peoples Energy. "We certainly look forward to working with him."

While at CUB, Cohen fought to win a $118 million refund from Peoples, which allegedly overcharged its residential customers for natural gas. Blagojevich also has called on state regulators to order the refund.

And the appointment may have won some peace and quiet for Blagojevich.

"This sounds like a great idea," said Madeleine Talbott, head organizer for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now in Chicago.

"We may not have to do a sit-in at the governor's office now that we have someone there to talk to," she said. Her organization wants more help for low-income people facing high heating bills.

Cohen has been a high-profile player in consumer affairs for years, frequently appearing in print and on television. But he mostly dropped from view after his Senate rejection.

"People stopped calling me," Cohen said.

His 10 weeks of unemployment did not sound like an ordeal, however.

"I worked seriously on my hobbies," said Cohen, who is part owner of the Lillstreet Art Center in Chicago. "I'm still a potter. I played a lot of guitar."